Critical Thinking Lesson Plan

Teacher: Sam Fisher

School: Colorado State University

Date:
Grade Level: HS

Title: What is Money?

Content Area: Economics

Lesson #:_1_ of _1_

Content Standard(s) addressed by this lesson:

Economics CDE Standard 1: Understand the allocation of scarce resources in societies through analysis
of individual choice, market interaction, and public policy.
a. Analyze the relationships between economic goals and the allocation of scarce
resources (DOK 2-3)
b. Explain how economic choices by individuals, businesses, governments, and societies
incur opportunity costs (DOK 1-2)
c. Understand that effective decision-making requires comparing the additional
(marginal) costs of alternatives with the additional (marginal) benefits (DOK 1-2)

Inquiry Questions

3: What is the economic impact of various monetary and fiscal policies that a government can
use?

4: How would you change monetary policy?

Inquiry Questions:
Where does our money come from?
How does our money receive its value?
What are the current problems related to currency?
Evidence Outcomes: (Knowledge/ Skills, Lesson Objectives)
Every student should agree with the following:
I can: A. Roughly explain how the American monetary system works, and why money is printed.
B. Explain the different types of currencies (fiat, hard, etc.) and use this knowledge to determine
which type of currency we have here in America.
C. Students will discover for themselves where our money comes from using the sources and
tools I provide them. The important part is that they form an opinion on the institution of
money.
Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction
a. Hook students intro with video explaining how the Federal Reserve works and how money is
printed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP9H5fADC0E. Be sure to stop at 2:15 to avoid
implementation of bias.
2. Lesson
a. Show students following websites and discuss the facts about current problems in currency
http://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12773.htm
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
3. Assess Learning
a. To assess learning, students will draw a diagram illustrating how money makes its way into
their pockets. If students are unclear draw it on the board and explain again.
4. Discussion

Discussion Activity
Activity Name

Money: What is it Worth?

Approx. Time

30-45 Minutes

Questions for
discussion:

How does it receive its value?

Why do we use it?
Can we function without it?
Is there an alternative to having currency in society?
(time reserved for Socratic Seminar)

I hope that this lesson helps students begin to question the laws and system
in which they are being raised in to determine whether or not they will want
to keep things this way when their generation is in power. The most
important piece is that they decide what is right.

Closure
At the end of lecture I will have students write down their personal beliefs
on the topics covered in the lesson

http://www.businessinsider.com/where-does-money-come-from-2014-4

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/where-does-money-come-from.html